Etlingera gracilis (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Etlingera gracilis (Valeton) R.M. Smith

Family: Zingiberaceae

Synonyms

• Nicolaia gracilis Valeton.

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: ketimbang gadjah (Lampung).

Distribution

Indonesia (Sumatra).

Uses

The fruits are eaten fresh (sour) or prepared as a condiment for food, with same taste as tamarind.

Observations

• Perennial herb, 2-3 m tall.
• Leaves linear-lanceolate, 36-50 cm × 8-12 cm.
• Fruiting heads on slender scapes of 50 cm length; fruit berry-like, globose-obovate, ca. 2 cm diameter, red.

In lowland forests, along streams. Species is not well-known.

Selected sources

• Heyne, K., 1927. De nuttige planten van Nederlandsch Indië [The useful plants of the Dutch East Indies]. 2nd ed. 3 Volumes. Departement van Landbouw, Nijverheid en Handel in Nederlandsch Indië. 1953 pp.

• Valeton, Th., 1921. Nicolaia Horan. Description of new and interesting species. Bulletin du Jardin Botanique, Buitenzorg, Série 3, Vol. 3: 128-140.

Authors

P.C.M. Jansen, J. Jukema, L.P.A. Oyen, T.G. van Lingen